Contrast & Graduation

Last week I discovered that Lincraft had restocked their jewellery finding aisle, so I was able to buy a few more findings. Not everything I need, of course. I’m beginning to understand why there are so many books and tutorials on making your own findings.

Mind you, it would be easier if there weren’t so many different metal colours to choose from. Gold, antique gold, brass, antique brass, silver, antique silver, that more standard kind of silver that isn’t silvery, bronze and black. And add to that the option of making things from steel and stainless steel wire, and countless ways to add patina.

Gold looks strange against my skin so that at least narrows the choices. Brass turns it green, but you can spray it with varnish to prevent that – or wear it on top of my clothing. I got sucked into buying a set of beads and findings in a very reddish bronze from Riot a while back and found matching chain at Lincraft, to which I added all the red beads that I’d accumulated to make yet another bracelet.

Some links taken from a light fitting I’d bought for my first house, but which ended up in my second, had a nice antique brass look. I did some neat wire wrapping that I was very proud of, only to find the bracelet fell off my wrist. A link removed made it fit, and I’m sure it’ll end up in some other project.

A porcelain necklace of beads in graduated colours I saw on Pinterest was the inspiration for this necklace. I used up more wooden beads and used three shades of nailpolish.